Grumman G-164C accident near Beech Grove, Arkansas, May 8, 2017
On May 8, 2017 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2009 Grumman G-164C, registered N171BW, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Beech Grove, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A tire failure for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2017 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Beech Grove, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164C, built 2009 · all G-164Cs on the register
- Registration
- N171BW · no longer on the register · serial 21C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the right main tire "went flat and possibly blew." The airplane veered right and went off the side of the runway, where it impacted a ditch, bounced, turned sideways, and slid to a stop. The pilot saw fuel running out of the engine compartment and the airplane caught fire. The airplane continued to burn, and the engine compartment, cockpit, fuselage, empennage, and left wing were largely consumed by fire. The photographs taken of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the airplane, including the main landing gear wheels, brakes, and tires, were largely consumed by fire, and fire damage precluded examination or testing of the wheels, brakes, and tires.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Damaged/degraded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Damaged/degraded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,668 hours in all; 1,258 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 3,560 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,192 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 8,505 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE-10-511M (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Beech Grove AR at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Beech Grove AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,640 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from ARG, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 11, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.